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Technical Cooperation Project Summary

Project Title

Supporting the National Plan of Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor in Kenya

Region/Country

AFRICA/ Kenya

Project Duration

September 30, 2004 – April 15, 2009

Fiscal Year & Funding Level

FY 2004: USD 5,000,000

Problem to be Addressed

The incidence of the worst forms of child labor (WFCL) in Kenya.

Targets

A total of 22,000 children (11,000 boys and 11,000 girls) under age 18 years will be targeted for withdrawal and prevention from exploitive child labor through the provision of educational and non-educational services. The project targets 15,000 children for withdrawal and 7,000 children for prevention in the cities of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Nyeri and the districts of Kiambu, Kitui, Busia, Siaya, Kilifi, Kwale, Maragua, Kakamega, Suba, and Samburu. These children will be withdrawn and prevented from work in commercial and subsistence agriculture, fisheries, pastoralism, domestic work, commercial sexual exploitation, and the informal sector. The project will also provide support to 3,000 families for various income generating activities.

Project Objectives

To support the Government of Kenya’s National Plan of Action to eliminate the worst forms of child labor (WFCL).

Immediate Objectives:

  • Expand the knowledge base to support planning, designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of child labor interventions;
  • Harmonize labor-related legislation and strengthen capacity for enforcement;
  • Link relevant policies and programs on child labor and ensure that these target the needs of children in WFCL;
  • Increase public awareness of the negative consequences of WFCL and mobilize stakeholders;
  • Introduce effective interventions to withdraw children from WFCL and provide access to quality primary education and vocational training; and
  • Target vulnerable groups and families prone to WFCL for economic empowerment and community safety nets.

Summary of Activities
  • Provide technical support to the Ministry of Labor to establish a national data bank on child labor;
  • Conduct a comprehensive review of key legislation on child labor and education in order to amend inconsistencies and strengthen policies;
  • Link child labor and education policy by incorporating child labor issues in EFA and PRSP plans;
  • Conduct awareness-raising and community mobilization activities on child labor, including radio programming, drama productions, and youth-to-youth activities;
  • Implement initiatives to address the barriers to education for working children, such as cost of uniforms and loss of income of child labor;
  • Provide skills and vocational training to working children or children at risk of participating in WFCL; and
  • Identify vulnerable families and provide adult members of the families with skills training, management training and other support in order to promote income generation.
  • As of February 28, 2009, 25,599 children have been withdrawn or prevented from exploitive child labor as a result of this project.

Grantee

International Labor Organization’s International Program on the Elimination of Child Labor (ILO-IPEC)

Implementing partners

University of Nairobi Institute for Development Studies; Association of Media Women in Kenya; Ministry of Labor, Child Labor Division; ANPPCAN Kenya Chapter; Forum for African Women Educationalists; Federation of Kenya Employers; ANNPCAN Regional; Undugu Society of Kenya; SOLWODI; KAACR; Child Welfare Society of Kenya; Mathare Youth Sports Association; Kenya Institute of Education; Street Families Rehabilitation Trust Fund; Quality Management for Sustainable Development; Central Organization of Free Trade Unions Kenya; KUDHEIHA; Center for Education, Population, Environment; and Development; Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children; and the Kitui Development Center.

Contact Information

Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor and Human Trafficking (OCFT)

(202) 693-4843